The Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) has named David C. Kopaska-Merkel as a Grand Master for 2017. Kopaska-Merkel becomes the seventh recipient of this title, which is not given out annually. Kopaska-Merkel served a the editor of Star*Line from 1992-2002 and then served as the association’s President. He founded the speculative poetry ‘zine Dreams and Nightmares and has won the Rhysling Long Poem Award.For more information…

The Science Fiction Poetry Association has named two new Poetry Grand Masters, the first since 2010. Marge Ballif Simon and Steve Sneyd have received the honor for their years of publishing poetry in a variety of places. Simon’s work has previously received the Bram Stoker Award, the Rhysling Award, the Dwarf Stars Award, and the Strange Horizons Readers Award. In addition to publishing his own Poetry, Sneyd presents the annual DataDump Award and has published numerous other poets.

The Horror Writers of America (HWA) have announced that William F. Nolan has been named a Grand Master. Nolan will be honored at the World Horror Convention in Atlanta, GA the weekend of May 7-10. Nolan has been widely published and has written film and television screenplays. He may be best known for the novel Logan’s Run and his short fiction has been collected in more than a dozen collections. Nolan has received Bram Stoker Awards and has been named an Author Emeritus by SFWA.

SFWA presented the 48th annual Nebula Awards in San Jose, CA on May 18. In addition to the Nebula Awards, SFWA also presented the Solstice Awards, the Kevin O’Donnell Service to SFWA Award, the Damon Knight Grand Master Award, the Andre Norton Award, and the Ray Bradbury Award.

Best Novel: 2312, by Kim Stanley Robinson

Best Novella: After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall, by Nancy Kress

Author Jack Ketchum (a.k.a. Dallas Mayr) has been named Grand Master by the World Horror Convention, scheduled to take place this year from April 28-May 1 in Austin, Texas. Ketchum has won numerous Stoker Awards for his novels and stories, which include Peaceable Kingdom and Closing Time.